Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-14
4 START In MEDICINE.
An Interview With DR.. William A. Ham
mOnd on His Profession.
LIT

SDlCdBO 1lIe1 OCEan.
NEW YORK, Oct. 6.-"There are 500
doctors in this city more than are
needed" said DR.. William A. Hammond
as he leaned back in his chair and glanced
benignlY at pile of bank bills on the ia
bic before him, all Of which were either
of ten or twenty dollar denomination.
The famous physician is about sixty years
old, wears closely cropped
white beard and has slate col
ored eyes. His expression and
manner indicate a kindly DISPOSE
ton from which keen business methods
and success have ground eff ell excres-
cences OF useless generosity. A man
whose practice is as extended ss his is
has little time for anything but business,
aud yet DR.. Hammond never fails to make
time for doing what it seems to him may
result in benefit TO others. It was this
impulse that led him to talk about his
profession after he had disposed OF thirty
patients who had called, and while his
carriage Waitsd at the door to take him to
those who were unable to leave their
houses.
"Daniel Webster used to say" he con-
tinued, f'thst there is plenty Of room on
top" It is true in medicine as else
where, but it is hard climb to get there.
The profession is sadly overcroWded, and
in no places more SO than in the great
cities &c which young fellows flock, in
duced by the prospect of great rewards.
There is another incentive to settling in 8
great city, and wOrthier one no doubt,
in that here the opportunities for study are
immeasuraoly greater than in the coun-
try. 90 nos mean in the several schools
here so much as in the vast population
which develops all known diseases,
and brings C&ses to thej hospitals in such
numbers that in q comparatively short
time g student physician may have under
his eye substantially all the forms of
malady which it is desirable he should
know about. This is of the greatest
possible value to those who are rested
in specialties, aud would say that I be-
lieve that it is the sensible thing for young
doctors to endeGvor to makes themselves
specialists. This in spite of the fact
that the special fields are getting crowded
as well SO the general fields. But
the specialist has more to look
forward to in the wEy of rewards tn,
the general practitioner snG more TO hope
for in the way OF contributing to the
advance Of the science; for it is reason
Eble that more can be learned of the
progress Of disease and it's tTestment
from studiOus appliCat on OF attention
to one form, thsn from considering such
cases as may arise in a general practice.
[ was one Of the first to make speciality
OF nervous disorders, and suppose l am
SIS prominent as anybody in that line. It
is very cold day when 1 do not take in
5000"
Here the doctor rose abruptly and took
off his COs5. He resumed his talk as he
bu.toned another cost over his immacu-
late white vest, and busted himself with
tuckiDg his pile Of bills into safe place
aud making other preparations for his
visits 10 distant patients.
"IT young man, after getting his di-
ploma, can get with an established ply
siciau who WILL throw the surplus of his
practice In the young mans way; and
give him the benefit of his long expert
eUCe, ne will have by far the best chance
Of success. Foe here, as in all other
lines Of work, influence tells. My
son is doctor who has been IN
the profession six years. He makes
ten thousand year, but he could not be
doing that IL he had not had me to help
him. A fair average practice for young
doctor who has got ord nary ability is two
thousand O year. There are many who
DO not succeed at all. 1t isn't that young
men are so actively opposed. But when
he starts in nothing is known Of him. He
has TO make his own success at the start
by persistent effort, hoping to make hit
by the treatment Of some hard case. II is
when young physician hes become sue
cessful enough to attract attention that
real opposition to him is developed Then
others try to crowd him out, for his sue
cess Injuries them sill more or less. WHAT
a doctor needs mere than anything else
besides his learning is tact in dealing
with his patients. II hs has tact and per-
severance he will be likely to get on. He
ought always to keep up his studies, for
q physician is never too old to learn. The
science is constantly advancing, and il
behooves a good practitioner to keep
abreast OF the times. l am constantly
delviDg into suhjscts akin to my special
", reading on them and even devoting
considerable time to writing about them.
And while on this point I want to say
emphaticAlly that young physician
should not try to support himself by
tChCuiuS VI ObuCI biuu VI WOAh
pursuing his studies. He should give his
whole tina to the matter, and make up
his mind to re q doctor with all that i'm
plies, or nothing"
"Then would you be inclined to dis
suace Young man with )us capital from
undertaking the study OF medicine?"
"Everything depends upon the young
mSn. There are some men 80 full OF
energy and perseverance taat no obstacle
is too great to prevent them from trying
for and winning success in medicine.
Bat capital to 1--we on for time until g
paying practice can be gained is O most
desirable thing"
The doctor was ready to go, and q
gorgeous colored man in full dress suit
and brass buttons opened Inc ooor for
him, and he stepped into richly fitted
opER carriage end his liyeried driver
turned his span of gray horses up the
Avenue. F. r. BURTON.